Truth About Ringworm

Video Transcript

Narrator: That itchy, contagious rash is one of the most common skin disorders. Ringworm got its name...

Suephy Chen, MD: because the lesion itself is in a ring shape. The scaliness follows a ring type of pattern...

Narrator: But it's called ring worm...so does that mean that it's spread by worms?

Suephy Chen, MD: No. Ringworm is not caused by worms at all. Although it is infection, it's caused by a fungus and fungus is infectious and so that may have been why this whole word came about.

Narrator: Oh, you knew that. But did you know that the ringworm fungus, called tinea, also causes athelete's foot and other similar skin infections?

Michael Smith, MD: Most people don't realize that ringworm is caused by the same fungus whether it's on the scalp, on the face, anywhere on the body.It causes athlete's foot and the same fungus causes jock itch.

Suephy Chen, MD: On the body it is usually a very round patch and it's pretty pink, sometimes bright red and very scaly on top of itand it can occur almost in coin shape patches although sometimes it can spread....On the scalp, they start losing hair actually, because there's so much inflammation going on so you can see some areas where the hair has dropped out, you can see these black dots...On the feet, it's very, very scaly, sometimes pretty red and definitely a lot of patients complain about it being itchy.it likes to stay in the toe webs so like between the third and fourth toes are very common place for it and because it gets sweaty in that area,it's no longer like the flaky scale, like it's really macerated so it's white and wet...and very often actually people who get recurrent problems with their feet, it's because the fungus has set up shop in the nails.And so you get very thickened yellow, very crumbly brittle-looking nails and that becomes a reservoir actually for the fungus.

Narrator: That's not the only reason you're likely to get recurring fungal infections.

Suephy Chen, MD: You're more likely to get it again because you have the type of skin that the fungus likes, but also, most people have a particular lifestyle habitthat they don't break very easily um, or they chose not to.So for instance, the athlete is not going to quit sports you know...just because, and they're not going to seek out their own shower stall....

Narrator: Whatever you do, be sure to seek treatment. Some fungal infections can turn nasty.

Michael Smith, MD: For example, if you have ringworm on your face, on your scalp, if you don't treat it, it can leave a scar or even permanent hair loss in that area...

Suephy Chen, MD: The large majority of fungal infections can be treated topically. The two exceptions really are the toe nail fungus as well as the fungus in the scalp...For those two scenarios, an oral medication is best.There are many over-the-counter products that people can get their hands on very easily.But if it turns out that the rash is particularly stubborn, then I probably would seek the care of you know, a physician or some sort of a healthcare provideryou know, fairly soon and not go too far...